“What?!” Ophelia yelled, spinning around to face Oscar, who stood a short distance from Persis. “You’re heading back to your home country?”“That’s right,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “I’m going back.”Ophelia’s brows twitched, her eyes clouding with sadness, her chest tightening.Persis watched her, sensing immediately what was coming. She didn’t understand why Oscar wanted to return, or why he didn’t seem worried about Tedmond attacking his family and taking everything from them.He just… let it be.That curiosity gnawed at her, though she couldn’t ask. Ophelia was there, and she didn’t want to bring up Tedmond’s past unless he mentioned it himself.“Why are you going back?” Ophelia asked, stepping out of the pool. “You were having a good time here.”“I was,” he said with a small nod. “But I need to go home, see what’s happening. Once it’s done, I’ll be back.”“How long?”He tilted his head, thinking. “Probably a month.”Ophelia nodded, silent for a moment. “That’s okay.”

The Hargrove family had four children: three sons, one biological daughter, and an adopted daughter who had been brought into the family years ago.The adoption had been their mother’s way of coping after their stubborn eldest daughter, Lisa, went missing as a child.Losing Lisa had left a void that nothing else could fill. The adopted girl had been welcomed with warmth, though everyone knew she could never truly replace Lisa.The eldest son, Daniel, was in his late twenties, tall and broad-shouldered, with a sharp jawline and the commanding air of someone used to being obeyed. He had long taken it upon himself to protect the family, carrying burdens far beyond his years.The second son, Ethan, was quieter, more calculating. His dark eyes missed nothing, and while he lacked Daniel’s physical presence, his intellect and sense of strategy often made him the one everyone turned to when things got complicated.The youngest, Matthew, was volatile, quick to anger, reckless, and impulsive,

Lisa’s eyes widened.Though she had come back, she never imagined Amara would still hit her—just like she used to in the past.She had thought she could finally rest here, but if this was how things were going to be, she would’ve rather stayed with the Griffins than return to this hellhole.“You think you can talk to me like that after everything I’ve done for this family?” Amara spat. “After you dared to crawl back here as if you belonged?”Lisa slowly turned her head toward her, breathing unevenly but eyes defiant. The pain on her cheek was clear, yet her pride refused to crumble.Amara smirked at that stubborn look, stepping closer until her shadow fell over Lisa.“Still pretending to be strong, huh?” she whispered mockingly. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”Lisa’s cheek burned where Amara’s hand had struck her. She didn’t move for a moment, just sat there with her hair falling over her face, the silence heavy except for the faint ticking of the clock.Then, slowly, she lifted her

After seeing Amara freeze, Ethan grew even more suspicious. After all, they had found Amara in Lisa’s room—not the other way around. And it was Lisa who had been in pain, completely unaware of whether anyone was home. There was no way she could have staged such a scene.Amara hesitated for a split second, then lowered her gaze, her voice softening into something pitiful.“Because she wanted to make herself look like the victim… she knew you’d all side with her if she got hurt. She planned it—she wanted sympathy.”Matthew glanced at Ethan, uncertain.“You think she’s telling the truth?” he asked quietly.Ethan didn’t answer

There was no way to make them understand without the evidence.Her hands clenched in her lap, fingernails digging into the sheets as her eyes narrowed at Amara.She didn’t say a word—she let the silence hang, heavy and accusing, letting the tension speak for her.Amara’s gaze flicked nervously between Lisa and the brothers, her act of pitiful innocence beginning to crumble.Every passing second made the sweat on her brow feel hotter, and every glance of suspicion in their eyes made her panic rise.Ethan exchanged a glance with Daniel and Matthew.“Fine,” he said finally, his voice clipped. “Let’s see the footage.”Amara’s stomach twisted.She swallowed hard, her throat dry, and tried again to talk them out of it.“Please… really, it’s unnecessary. You’ll see—it’ll just be a misunderstanding. Trust me.”But the brothers’ expressions hardened. Their frowns deepened as they stared at her.Daniel crossed his arms. “You’re the one panicking, Amara. You’ve been trying to make this about Lisa